Fast Food - Thai Style
The unique Sticky Rice in Bamboo Reeds

- © by Travelers' Net
- Pictures and text by Joe Josef

Several times a week...

...the Sticky Rice Man comes to visit us. With a big basket full of Khao Lahm balancing on his Honda Dream he patiently waits for his customers to gather around the goodies and pick the stick of their choice. There are two varieties; one filled with white rice (khao lahm khao) and one filled with black rice (khao lahm daeng). There are different sizes to chose from.

What is (in) the stick?

The outer shell of Khao Lahm consists of a piece of hollow bamboo. The bamboo-stick is cut into pieces and the cleaned wooden shell is filled with cooked rice that will be heated up to finish the preparation inside the bamboo stick. As the bamboo builds naturally divided "cells" the way it grows, every stick has a naturally closed bottom. The top is closed by a spongy cork-like filling of wood and banana leaves.

Pure Nature

Khao Lahm is a wonderful snack. It is pure, ecological nature through and through. The heating process in the bamboo stick gives it a sweet, fragrant taste that you have to try out yourself! The sticks keep their freshness for several days even outside a refrigerator. They can be discarded of anywhere, as they are 100 percent recyclable.

The Sticky Rice man rolls along several times a week. pic.trv.net	A basket full of pure natural Fast Food. pic.trv.net
Close-up. Prices are pencilled on the bamboo shell. The Khao Lahm in the left corner costs 30 Baht. pic.trv.net	This is the way to devour Khao Lahm: Open it at the top with a fingernail… pic.trv.net
…peel it like a banana… pic.trv.net	…expose the rice. This is the red variety. pic.trv.net
Sink your teeth into the goodies! pic.trv.net